Time−Motion Characteristics and Physiological Responses of Para-Footballers With Cerebral Palsy in Two Small-Sided Games and a Simulated Game

Abstract

This study compared physical performance in a group of international cerebral palsy football players during two formats of small-sided games (SSGs) and performance in a simulated game (SG) according to players’ sport classes (FT1, FT2, and FT3). Internal load (heart rate and rating of perceived exertion) and external load (total distance, distance covered at different velocities, maximum speed reached, acceleration, and deceleration) were obtained with global positioning system devices during two formats of SSGs (2-a-side/SSG2 and 4-a-side/SSG4) and an SG (7-a-side). SSG2 demands faster actions compared with SSG4/SG, and significant differences and large effect sizes were found in the distance covered in Speed Zones 5 (16.0−17.9 km/hr) and 6 (>18.0 km/hr; p < .05; , large). Lower moderate accelerations and decelerations per minute in SSG4/SG compared with SSG2 were also found (p < .01; , large). In the SSG2 task, the FT3 players reached maximum speeds, covered more distance at the highest intensities, and performed more moderate/high accelerations/decelerations and more sprints compared with FT1 and FT2 players (p < .05; −0.85 < dg < −4.64, large). The SSG2 task could be the best option for discriminating physical demands in important variables for cerebral palsy football performance between classes FT3 versus FT1/FT2.

Neuromuscular Fatigue in Cerebral Palsy Football Players after a Competitive Match According to Sport Classification and Playing Position

“…Possibly, due to the functional differences between classes and despite the lower external load of FT1 and FT2 (more affected classes) than FT3, the internal load or the perceived exertion could be similar following a match. These results show that the player sport classes with more impairment, despite having a lower physical response than the more functional profiles, have a similar perceived perception effort [10]. Therefore, it would be interesting to quantify in CPFPs not only the external match response but also the internal or perceived load, because this could provide complementary match load information.…”

“…The present results showed no significant differences between sport classes in the RPE-ML and RPE. In this regard, Henríquez et al [10] found no differences between the sport classes in the RPE and the heart rate of CPFPs following the performance of two small-sided games and a simulation match, reinforcing the possibility that the mentioned factors may explain the absence of differences in the internal load across functional profiles. Contrary to the obtained results, previous studies observed differences in the external load of players' sport classes during international matches, showing the influence of the impairment profiles on physical response parameters [3,11].…”

“…The rated perceived exertion (RPE) has increasingly been used to measure internal load and to determine the perceived effort in non-impaired football players [13,24,25,27] and previously utilized in players with CP [10,28]. This method has been described as being valid for quantifying efforts during training and football matches [29][30][31] and has been proposed for use in the context of football and other team sports [32,33].…”

“…Overall, people with CP present the following: compromise of the descending neural pathways that control body movement, recruitment of motor units, produce muscle tone alterations, co-contraction, and progressive secondary musculoskeletal complications over the lifetime [2]. Specifically, CP football players (CPFPs) present neuromuscular compromise affecting endurance capacity [4], muscular strength [5], change of direction ability [6], repeated sprint ability [7], acceleration and deceleration performance [8], jump capacity [9], and whole physical performance during training or competition instances [3,10]. Given that CP football requires multiple actions of very high intensity and high neuromuscular capacity [7,11], which must be maintained throughout the competitive actions, it may be relevant to know the muscle fatigue of para-footballers induced by matches.…”

Futebol para pessoas com paralisia cerebral: revisão de escopo

“…A maioria dos estudos (n = 18) se propôs a realizar avaliações físicas e desempenho (Coswig et al, 2019;Daniel et al, 2020;de Freitas et al, 2020;Gamonales et al, 2019;Gorla et al, 2019;Henríquez et al, 2021;Henriquez et al, 2020;Moreira et al, 2017;Peña-González et al, 2021;Reina et al, 2016Reina et al, , 2017Reina et al, , 2018Reina et al, , 2019Reina et al, , 2020Rosch de Faria et al, 2018;Sarabia et al, 2020;Yanci et al, 2016Yanci et al, , 2018. Nesse sentido é possível observar que com relação ao desempenho, atletas de classes esportivas mais altas (FT3) apresentaram melhores resultados quando comparados com atletas de classes esportivas mais baixas (FT1), seja em testes de agilidade, altura de saltos ou testes de sprints.…”